Giuseppe Calì
May 2, 2011
Italian National Leader
The prestigious facilities of the “Marriott Rome Park” Hotel provided the setting for Rev. and Mrs. Sun Myung Moon’s third major address on their current World Tour. The beautiful, spacious room was filled with over 1000 VIPs, guests and Unificationists from all over Italy, many having left from cities in Northern Italy earlier that same morning. By the time Father Moon arrived, the hall was completely full with standing room only and the atmosphere buzzing with excitement and expectation.
We had no doubts about the historical importance of the event and especially about the spiritual power that Father manifested once again to uplift the spirit of the audience by making everyone convinced of the reality of the Kingdom of Heaven, Cheon Il Guk. Even the technicians and staff of the hotel didn’t want to miss a word of Father’s speech and stayed until the end, later asking our staff many questions about him.
Among the participants were about 70 Ambassadors for Peace, who brought with them many of their contacts who were attending a Unificationist meeting for the first time and yet were as enthusiastic as our members and Ambassadors for Peace. The four religious leaders, representing Catholicism, Protestantism, Islam and Buddhism, were outstanding, and expressed the essence of their religions in a most spiritual and beautiful way. The nun, for example, a missionary in poor countries for 45 years, moved the audience to tears through her reading of St. Francis’ prayer.
Our membership in Italy brought many first time-guests who did not know much about our beliefs. To me this was a sign of the great work of the spiritual world that always, especially in Italy, supports us by filling up the holes in our organization, which is challenged by the size and speed of the providence.
True Father was really happy, powerful, full of love, and bright as the sun on the stage; a commanding presence that pulled everybody up to the highest Heaven. This time his speech lasted about one hour and 45 minutes and nobody moved from the hall until the end, when all rose and offered heartfelt applause to True Parents. I helped True Father, together with the True Mother, to receive a plaque with the title “The Greatest Love of All” from an Ambassador for Peace, and I cannot forget the smile that Father gave as he was offering his hand to me. I saw God’s face and His love, which entered into my deepest heart.
Father was very serene and embracing at Hoon Dok Hae in the early morning, even though the content was many times more serious about the end of the providential era. He spoke a lot about Christianity especially about their missing of the central point and not being able to connect to the central pillar, True Parents. We received deep and important messages everyday from Father and we could also share the intimacy of being with True Parents and True Family, singing, sharing testimonies and praying.
We had a few excursions into the city of Rome as well, with all the True Family members present. We really enjoyed taking care of our True Parents so directly. I was especially grateful to be able to personally assist in climbing the many steps in the historic city. We ate in a simple Italian restaurant and I had the joy to give part of the food from my dish to Father because he liked the food so much. These are very simple things externally, but so deep internally to be impressed in my heart and mind so meaningfully. He was always smiling and I felt as never before that he is my Father, not only True Parent of Heaven, Earth and Humankind. I realized how important is the personal connection to True Parents, as the Parents that gave us true life. We will never be able to give back as much as they gave to us: this is impossible. What we can do is to always feel constant gratitude and love for them. The personal and close relationship helps us to recognize them heart to heart, not only theologically. I had several experiences with True Parents in my life, but this one was the deepest and most meaningful one.
We took part in the most historical time in all of Italian history these days; I have no doubts about it. God’s grace was manifested fully to direct the country toward the Cheon Il Guk and the time of 2013. It is not by chance that True Parents’ visit corresponds with the time of the beatification of John Paul II in Rome, the Pope that missed the mission of meeting True Parents, and the marriage of a member of the Royal family in United Kingdom, those who also could not connect to the main providence at the proper time long ago. In some way, now everything has to go back to the proper place, with a proper order, and True Parents’ visit is the last step they are making, on behalf of God Himself, to prepare the conclusion of the old history and the beginning of the new era of the Cheon Il Guk.
Comments from attendees of True Father’s speech on April 29, 2011:
“I’m Ambassador for Peace since few years and I always felt that there was a special Grace in it. I defended Rev. Moon’s name some time without knowing him so well. Now I know what was the power behind my attraction to him: He is the carrier of God’s will for this time. I’m grateful for this night, a life changing experience. Rev. Moon is a true man of God that not only preaches but also lives totally what he preaches. Thank you again and let’s work to build the new world of peace together.”
~ Antonio Imeneo, High commissioner of the world parliament for safety and peace.
“I fully share Rev. Moon’s vision expressed by him in the speech. Especially important is the meaning of this new age in which we will recognize all mankind as part of our family under one only God. As Rev. Moon expressed his messiahship, each man and woman of the third millennium has the messianic principle in himself but Rev. Moon and his wife opened the way for the new culture and God’s Kingdom in earth and Heaven. Thanks to them we can feel as brothers and sisters in one only world family, with one only blood lineage.”
~ Gabriella Lavorgna, President of the “Mandir della Pace” a spiritual group that organized the Assisi Peace Meeting every year.
“The extraordinary figure of Rev. Moon, with all his communicative power, is unique in the way he changed the contemporary era. I wish to express my great joy for his presence in Rome as part of his tour. I consider this choice an expression of his love and concern for Italy, at the point that he wanted to include Rome in his life experience once again.”
~ Ambassador Lady Souad Sbai (Ambassador of Morocco).
“A man moved by a Heavenly Energy, The most important prophet of the 21st century. His words, deeply rooted in his universal faith, will soon blossom for the future generations.”
~ Franco Bucarelli. Journalist expert in Vatican.
“Rev. Moon in his speech has been passionate, convincing and constructive, really very special! I was particularly impressed by the idea of the Bering Strait and the one between Korea and Japan. I really hope that all his dreams come true very soon.”
~ Carlo Alberto Tabacchi, Journalist and expert of international politics.
“This Roma tour speech of Rev. Moon was a particularly meaningful one. Roma has been a city of great spirituality but also often great intolerance. The Universal Peace Federation (UPF) is now working for human rights and true peace based especially on religious freedom. This is the result of the Rev. Moon’s hard work in building so many organizations for peace, aimed to reach people of all levels. Especially important is the effort he is making to build bridges between enemy countries, like Japan and Korea or USA and Russia. His vision is to make the people of the world closer and closer as one family.”
~ Antonio Stango, Helsinki Committee for human rights and secretary at the parliament and European Union.